Pakistan Selectors Demand Injury Probe on Azam, Zaman

Pakistan's cricket selectors have called for an investigation into the injuries sustained by star batters Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman during the recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup, raising questions about fitness monitoring and communication within the team management. The revelations came during a press conference on Saturday ahead of the third ODI against Bangladesh, where selector Aaqib Javed, joined by committee members Misbahul Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Asad Shafiq, expressed surprise that the injuries only surfaced after the tournament ended.

Javed stated that the selectors were not informed of the issues while the players were competing in the Super Eights stage, including Pakistan's final group game against Sri Lanka. Both Azam and Zaman participated actively, with Zaman scoring 109 runs across three matches at a strike rate of 187.93, including an unbeaten 84 off 42 balls against Sri Lanka. Azam, who played five of six matches, managed 91 runs at a strike rate of 112.34. "Fakhar is also injured, and we have also asked the Cricket Board to investigate," Javed said. "How can it be possible that Fakhar is also unfit? We only know after the World Cup."